SkyTools
3 Professional Edition

The
Professional Edition is for the astronomical imager, experienced
visual observers who observe from a dark
site or any serious
observer who wants the very best in observing software.

The
Pro Edition includes all of the features of the
Standard Edition plus a much deeper database, support for astro-imaging,
and enhancements to many of the standard features. The Real Time
telescope control tool is included.

Pass your cursor over the
screen capture on the left of
NGC 7142 to see the the dramatic difference of the Pro Edition star
database.

Exclusive
Professional Edition Features

Imaging Session Planner

The
Imaging Planner supports deep sky, planetary, and lunar and solar imaging
for astronomical CCDs, digital cameras, and video/web
cams. Know with certainty when each object is best
imaged.

SkyTools
planning is about helping you make the best imaging
choices. Optimum sub-exposure times are suggested for
image stacking and the final signal-to-noise ratio is
estimated. The optimum period to image each object
during the night is computed and displayed
graphically:

Exposure
Calculator / Imaging Laboratory

The
Exposure Calculator is a sort of experimental
laboratory that you can use to get the most out of
your images without having to use your telescope time
to do the testing.

When
planning an imaging session many questions crop up:

How
far into twilight should I expose? Which
filter is least affected by twilight?

What
will be the difference in my final image if I
stack 5-minute sub-exposures rather than 30-minute
subs?

Should
I continue to observe after the moon rises?
If so, which filter is least affected by
moonlight?

What
order should I use for my filters?

How
much would I gain by moving to a dark site?

What
effect will poor seeing have on my final image?

How
long can I image Jupiter tonight before the final
stacked image will appear smeared from rotation?

What
is the penalty, if any, for imaging Jupiter in
daylight?

These
questions are often answered approximately using
"rules of thumb" handed down by experienced
observers, either in person or via guide books. But
there are many variables; what works best for one
imaging setup under one set of observing conditions is
often not best for another. The
Exposure Calculator allows you to explore these
"what if..." type questions for your setup
and your conditions.

Direct
answers take the guess work out of imaging.

Imaging
Context Viewer

This
is a popup window for the Atlas that displays a
simulated image taken with your camera and telescope.

The
camera FOV of the telescope is drawn on
the atlas. The atlas provides the context of what you
are looking at, while the viewer shows you what you can
expect to record.

Drag
the viewer around on the atlas to preview various
objects, or if connected to a telescope, the viewer will
mark the position of the camera FOV .

This tool is perfect for locating the correct field;
readily compare a short exposure to the simulated
image. Drag the imaging FOV anywhere on the
chart to test placement, and if a telescope is
connected the telescope will follow!

Deepest
Stellar Database522
million stars

Our
unique database has stars down to 20th magnitude over the entire sky. The highest
quality data available is used, including UCAC and
selected stars from USNO-B1.0 catalog. Unlike other
software, double and
variable star data is fully integrated. Learn
more

Real
Time Telescope Control Included

This
tool is like the Imaging Planner only for use at the
telescope; targets are recommended in real time.
Control a GOTO telescope or target objects for your
DSC equipped mount. Learn
more

There
is no question that SkyTools is the premiere software for planning observations. It is clear from the
start the the Nightly Planner was created by an avid
astronomer who actively uses it himself.

Choose
one of over a hundred observing lists or create
your own with the Nightly Observing List Generator,
Database Power Search, Designation Search, or
import tool.

Objects
are rated by Visual
Difficulty based on a complex model of the sky and
your instrument.

True
optimum viewing times are computed based on a
complex model that considers object type, brightness,
altitude, and the darkness of the sky.

Double-star
pair splittablity ratings are computed based on a
sophisticated model of your telescope, eye, and sky
conditions.

Trim
the list to only those objects appropriate for your
conditions, your telescope, your expectations, and your
selected night.

A
major application in itself, the SkyTools logbook uses
context and customizable presets to fill in as many
fields as possible before you start writing. Browse logs
by night, observer, location, telescope, etc. Search for
log entries via multiple search criteria. Print or copy
to the clipboard logs to satisfy the requirements for
various observing awards. Learn
more

Interactive
Atlas

SkyTools
is often called a planner, but in fact it contains a
fully functional charting app. The Interactive Atlas
is like a fine atlas for your computer except you have
complete control over how it looks and what is
displayed. Learn
more

Custom
Finder Charts for Binoculars and Telescopes

Three-view
"star hopping" charts customized for your
instrument will guide you to even the most difficult
objects--no more hand-placing FOV circles! These charts
use highly accurate simulations of the visibility of
objects in the sky to make finding objects quick and
easy. Learn
more

Naked
Eye and Overhead Sky Charts

Whether
displayed on the screen or printed out, these charts
simulate the naked-eye sky using an accurate scientific
model that includes your local light pollution.

Visual
Context Viewer

This
is an utterly unique tool that places a simulated view
of your telescope in a popup window on top of the
Interactive Atlas. The FOV of the telescope is drawn on
the atlas. The atlas provides the context of what you
are looking at, while the viewer shows you what you can
expect to see.

Drag
the view around on the atlas to preview various
objects, or if connected to a telescope, the viewer will
mark the position of the telescope with an FOV circle
that is computed for the selected eyepiece.

If
connected to a GOTO telescope you can move the telescope
by dragging the FOV circle around on the atlas.

Add
Notes, Images, and Web Links to Objects

Assign
content to any object. Type notes or paste them in.
Create links to web sites or images on your hard drive.
Share your content with other SkyTools users. Learn
more

Database
Power Search

This
is a very powerful tool for searching the extensive
SkyTools databases. Learn
more

Find
the most distant quasar visible in your telescope

Make
an observing list of edge-on galaxies

Find
very red stars

List
every dark nebula in a given constellation

And
on and on...

Ephemeris
Generator

Calculate
the position of an object at regular intervals

List
the optimum time to observe an object nightly

Calculate
the position angle and separation for a long-period
binary star

Plot
any of these on a chart with a click of the mouse!

Download
and Display DSS Images on Charts

Sometimes
a picture can help you prepare to observe an object or
confirm that you truly saw it. Right-click on a chart to
download a Digital Sky Survey image for display in the
chart background or automatically download images for
all the objects in your observing list.

Current
Data for Comets, Novae, and Supernovae

Skyhound
maintains observing lists with currently visible comets,
novae, supernovae, and asteroids that make close
approaches to the earth. These lists are easily
downloaded from within SkyTools so you will always have
current information.

The
comet information in SkyTools is second to none. Other
software or online sources can plot the position of a
comet. But the magnitude and size data is often
incorrect or misleading. Only SkyTools can give you
accurate magnitudes and coma diameters because the
author, who maintains the Comet Chasing web site,
pulls together recent observations. Not only that, but
he also developed a method to accurately predict the
visibility of a comet in the eyepiece which is used by
SkyTools (the magnitude alone is almost meaningless for
comets).

Double-Star
Observing

Double
star catalogs are notoriously error prone, but SkyTools
includes the most complete and highly corrected double
star database available.

Search
for double stars to view based on splittability or
fixed separation and magnitude limits.

Thumbnail
Viewer

Use
this tool to visualize the objects in your observing
list so they can be readily compared. Plot an array of
thumbnail images of each object, either as they appear
on an idealized atlas, or as simulations in your
telescope.